Monday, May 21, 2007

Gear West Duathlon RR by Rocker

I love how Friday was 86 degrees, and Monday is goingto be 84…but Sunday? Well, heck! Let’s race in the 35degree range with gale-force winds :p Gotta love MN.

IN answer to your question, Marjie, Gear was fine.Cold. Frigid, frigid cold. And HELLO???? WTF IS UPWITH THE WIND???? But fine. I ended up about 3 minutesslower than last year.

I slogged thru both runs at about the same pace aslast year (and as a side note, whoever designed thiscourse should be shot. It has more twists and turnsand cambers than something that is…well… really twistyand turny and full of cambers. :p And those threehills right at the end I could do without, as well…).

Which means I lost most of my time on the bike. Atfirst I was annoyed—the bike is my strongest event(well, okay, it’s my ONLY strong event, as I’m nolonger a strong runner, and I certainly am noswimmer—not that swimming was necessary here, thisbeing a duathlon, and it NOT raining…and admittedoddity for Gear.). I usually try for a split in thetop 1-5 people. You can out run me, but I WILL beatyou down on the bike. And I felt strong out there,despite the nasty wind and muscle-cramping cold. Thebike course for Gear West it probably my favorite outof all the races I’ve done. It’s just roller afterroller after roller, all thru beautiful countryside.

Yet, like I said, I was 3 minutes slower. Oops. Grr.

But after some consideration, I realized I haven’tbeen riding. And despite the fact that the bike is mystrong suit…I can’t really expect to not actually rideand still do well. :p

SO all in all, I was happy with the day. It was nastyout, but still fun. It’s impossible to NOT have fun onthat bike course, I think. It’s just one of thoserides that reminds you why riding your bike is a joy.

I ended up at 22:54 for the 6k; 51:04/20.0 mph for the17 mile bike; and (ouch) 21:36 for the 4k. Total of1:37:35; 20th place OA. Not my best finish, but like Isaid, I’m not quibbling. :-) Onward and upward, y’all!